The Oct. 14 gathering was the airport’s quarterly Noise Advisory Forum, not a meeting to review proposed routes. Airport communications director Amanda Deweese said a miscommunication had led residents to expect information that airport staff did not have.

“It truly is irresponsible right now for us to talk about it because we simply don’t have it,” Deweese said, apologizing during the meeting.

Belmont Mayor Joe Jordan said an airport representative had told him residents with concerns should attend. He understood the forum to be a chance for them to raise questions and learn what changes might be considered.

The concerns come as Charlotte Douglas moves past the halfway point of construction on a new runway. Airport officials said environmental studies are underway and will address issues including aircraft noise and the altitude of planes taking off and landing. Those findings will inform the process for connecting departure procedures to flight routes, an airport official said.

Residents described worries about the effect of increased air traffic on daily life. One Belmont resident, who is building a home intended to be a lifelong residence, said a possible buyout would not resolve the family’s concerns if noise became a problem.

A resident from Steele Creek, where aircraft traffic has increased, said the noise made it difficult to hold conversations in the backyard and urged officials to take the effects on neighborhoods seriously.

Airport leaders said residents will have opportunities to discuss future flight patterns after the Federal Aviation Administration completes its process. No schedule for those meetings was provided at the forum.